The second 24 hours

What did the second day involve? Well, let's get the celeb sightings out of the way - Jamie Foxx, Brad Garrett, a couple of other people whose names escape us at the moment.

The hotel was amazing, and PC discovered the joy of catching up on news while you shower. A whole new world of efficiency! Despite the glass shower door and LCD on the bathroom wall, it doesn't work if you need to hear anything, but this is where the CNN ticker comes in handy.

Other than that, Poker Chick is pleased to say she left up $15 after poker, blackjack, and slots - and this is factoring IN the $220 tournament and rebuy costs. Tournament wise? She made it all the way to the second-final table! OK, so there were only five tables, but still - that's top half! 19th out of 50!! Now before you pooh-pooh this, let's put it in context, peeps. In Atlantic City, on a regular weekend, when you have a lot of irregular players, this would not be notable. Decent, but not notable.

However in Vegas, where the players are better anyway, on the day before the World Series of Poker main event begins, when some of those players were in the same tournament Poker Chick was playing in, it's a significantly more notable accomplishment. In addition, she played limit poker at higher stakes than she's ever played - while tired (rare) - between 2 and 5:30 AM, and still didn't lose. She would have won if she didn't have to get up and run to the airport to make a 7:30AM flight.

She had the joy of time with friends, great food, fabulous drinks, an awesome pool, and the trippy Cirque du Soleil LOVE show. Finally, a celebration when a friend won over $1,200 on PENNY slots. Poker Chick won some money at slots herself, the machine was "hot" and "loose diamonds". They were loose, peeps. Loose, we tell you. And hot.

Not bad for 24 hours.

What's on the agenda for the next 24 hours? Picking out dates for next year. With more preplanning, more of you readers can make it!

20 hours in Vegas

What can you do with less than 24 hours in Vegas? Well, a hell lot more than Poker Chick has done. But still, the 48 hour grownup weekend has been quite awesome. So far, she's managed to squeeze in: a quick dinner, long day by the pool with friends including lunch and drinks. She's also managed to discover that playing blackjack in your bathing suit is unbelievably fun. Not to mention the amazing frozen mojitos they had while you played. But better still was walking away with over $350 after she was down to her last $15.

Eventually, Poker Chick made her way to the poker room, where some famous poker players were hanging out (including Ellen DeGeneres and Cheryl Hines), and made a new Canadian friend at the table.

It's 105 degrees outside - but it's dry heat! Way better. Also quite tolerable when sitting in a pool with drinks the whole time. And the pool was a popular place for all, including Jay-Z and Joe Hachem, poker legend.

Ahh, Vegas. It never disappoints. More tomorrow, including PC's performance in a tournament herself..

Four-Way Action

Tournaments, games, blackjack...yep, Poker Chick played again. A massive 400-person tournament. Big wins at blackjack. And hours at a Poker table, not just getting money, but gettin' her game on as well. Four people in and Poker Chick's got the pocket Kings. And then a nut flush. And then top pair. Damn, Poker is so much fun.

VEGAS, DAY 1

24 hours in Vegas seems like forever. Before even seeing the room, I'd passed by dozens of slots, several wedding chapels, and was invited to the room of a rather icky and much too forward rich older gentleman. The crowds for this weekend are unreal.

We all dined in Paris last night. Jimster and I had breakfast, I got a massage, and then we all lunched by the pool. We even have video of Poker Chick's father drinking a "fruity" beverage. Then there are the pictures of the Jimster with the Malibu woman who was dressed as a nearly-naked cop handing out free rum...got some free lip balm from her too (of course!) Later, I got insulted by a cab driver ("You're a New Yorker, aren't you?") and there's much else I'm forgetting. Oh, yes, I touched a live shark. But let's talk about gambling.

The Kentucky Derby
Suffice it to say there is no place on earth better for watching the Derby than the racebook at a Vegas casino. Particularly when you met a horse race trainer the night before who gave you his choices. The noise, the excitement, the cheering, the money - even better than a good run at the craps table.

POKER

All were surprised when after 3+ straight hours of play Poker Chick came in 6th (1st-6th paid money) during a multi-table tournament. 40-something people entered; most locals or pros. The turning point was pocket kings that knocked out two players at once. Bam! Bam! That was awesome. It's definitely true that the players are much better in Vegas. So this was no small feat, all y'all.

Speaking of Venice (see daily update), we're off to the Venetian for a gondola ride and classy dinner. This is good because we need to air out the room after a JF. Amazing how some things are universally funny to boys. Not so much on the receiving end.